Wire connecter



P 13, 1932.- H. M. STIEGLITZ 1,877,611

WIRE CONNECTER Filed Jan. 19, 1929 INVENTOR HENRY M. ST/EGL/TZ iwh ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC HENRY M. STIEGLI'TZ, or sr. Louis, Mrssoun'rnssisnoa o FRANK ADAM minerals 00., or sr. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A coaronn'rron or MISSOURI WIRE coNNEcTER Application filed January 19, 1929. Serial 'No.'333,663.'

This invention relates to improvements in electrical terminal equipment, and particularly to wire terminal connectors.

Anobject of this invention is to provide a terminal connector which, by reason of certain structural features hereinafter set forth, is well adapted for use with safety type panelboards and similar equipment, wherein the terminal connectors, or binding posts, are placed in an insulated groove or recess. The prevailing type of connection, in which the terminal Wire is looped around the shank of a large-head screw and the latter tightened against a base, is unsatisfactory where it is necessary that the connector be placed within a recess, because of the difiiculty in making the loop and seating it properly to assure. a positive electrical juncture.

Further objects and advantages lie in the reduction of the number of parts required, and in the extreme facility with which the connector of my invention can be constructed; a simple expedient being employed to surmount former manufacturing difficulties,

as will be fully explained in the accompanying drawing and detailed description of a preferred embodiment of my device.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a stamped metal strip from which my device may be formed; Fig. 2 is a plan view of my device, and Figs. 3 and 4, respectively, are end and side views of the device shown in Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are views showing the adaptability of my connecter to a safety type fuse panel equipped with plug fuses; and Figs. 7 and 8 show my device equipped for cartridge fuses.

My device comprises, essentially, a clasping member which is preferably formed from a single piece of strip material, from which a portion is removed to leave an indent 11 (Fig. 1). After forming, the strip is folded or bent upon itself in the nature ofa hook, allowing sufiicient space. between the body of the strip and the folded portion to accommodate a suitable terminal wire. The body of the strip, and the portion folded thereover constitute, respectively, a base. 12 and a clamping member 13. The relative po- L o sition between members 12 and 13 is preserved bymeans of inwardly extending corhere 14, whichserve as spacers and tend to prevent the members from being forced together during subsequent assembly or use of the device. The corner portions 14 have the further function, due tothe normal resilience of the stripv itself, of serving the purpose of a lock washer.

Means for directing and positioning the wire are provided win the longitudinally dis posed grooves 15 and 16, which are formed in the base and clamping member, respectively, andwhich, in the folded structure, terminate in a funnel-shaped opening 17 (Fig. 3). The groove 15 is'preferably provided with cross ridges or corrugations and with a stop 18 at its extremity to aid in securing and positioning a terminal wire therein.

The strip; of meta-l 19, which remains, after forming the indent 11, to connect the members 12 and 13, tendsto maintain the grooves in aligned-position. The clamping member 13 is provided withv a bolt-receiving opening 20, as shown. aperture 21 in the base portion is preferably threaded to receive the clamping bolt 22, although a separatenut may be provided in lieu thereof.

jVVith my device the clamping of a conductor isso; effected that no-bending or looping of the conductor end is required, and in such a manner that the conductor will not be deformed: or injured due to any kinking, twisting. or cutting of thesam'e, incident to its-engagement. by the connector.

It will be apparent that my device affords,

particularlyby reason of theupset portions 14:, 3 a novel means for insuring that the channel forthe reception of'thewire end, is always open; andthat the pressure usually applied in threading up-the screw in assembly, and before it isdesired to'clamp the wireend, is resisted by portions 14, which serve as a'prelimearr pl/Vhile the drawing shows a longitudinal disposition of; the grooveswhich form the .wireireceiving seat,,a.ndiextendfrom the funnel-shaped mouth at the so-called front of the as toraflord a side-connection,without departing from the spirit and underlying principles of this invention. It is equally obvious that the clamp may be formed with a groove in only one member, to accommodate the wire end.

I claim as my invention: 7

1. In a wire connecter, wire retaining plates, means forming opposed wire channels in said plates, a bolt engaging said plates, means formed by one of said plates and extending beyond the plane thereof, forming a spacer between the plates, and means formed by an-- other of said plates for limiting the length of wire engaged by the connector.

2. In a wire connecter, wire gripping plates having apertures therein, a bolt extending through said apertures, means constituted by one of said plates forming a linear wire seat therebctween, and extending on opposite sides of the bolt, and means constituted by an upset portion of one of said plates, tending to maintain said plates in spaced relation, and to prevent obstruction of said wire seat upon clamping the plates together, and a wire stop at the inner end of said wire seat.

3. In a terminal connecter, a pair of oppositely disposed Wire gripping members, a screw engaging said members, means forming a linear wire seat on one of said members, said seat having its ends on opposite sides of said screw, a wire stop near one end of the wire seat, and means constituted by a deformed portion of one of said members and serving as a preliminary stop tending to oppose the action of said screw threaded means.

4. In a wire connecter, opposed wire gripping portions, means forming a wire seat in one of said portions, having a tapered wire guide near its receiving end, and a wire stop at its opposite end, threaded clamping means associated with said portions, and a resilient margin on one of said portions, adapted to serve as a spacer between said portions, and as a. locking means for said threaded clamping I means.

5. In a wire connecting device, a one-piece tively forming a converging wire receiving formed of a strip of sheet metal folded upon itself, and having a slot extended transversely of the strip at the fold, to provide an intermediate, portion of restricted width, there being registering apertures in said folded portions, a clamping screw extending through said apertures; a margin of one of the folds of the strip being deformed to lie beyond the plane of the fold by which it is carried and constituting a spacer between said folded portions, and adapted to serve as a locking element for said clamping screw, means forming an integral screw seat about one of said apertures, one of said folds having a depression therein forming a linear wire seat, a plurality of ridges formed transversely of said seat, one of said ridges being arranged to serve as a wire stop near the end of said seat; each of said folded portions having registering depressions therein constituting a converging wire receiving orifice; said restricted portion being adapted to connect the folded portions and to prevent relative angular displacement of said folds upon actuation of said screw.

HENRY M. STIEGLITZ.

wire engaging element, a bolt engaging said element at a plurality of points and adapted to clamp portions thereof "about the wire, the device having a throat on one of said portions, converging toward the space between said portions, a wire groove connecting with the throat, and a wire stop at one end of the groove, one of said gripping portions having a flexible margin adapted to serve as a spacer between the wire gripping portions of said element.

6. In a wire connecter, a wire holder including superposed portions normally spaced to receive a wire therebetween, and element separable from the holder for clamping together said portions, oppositely disposed projections integral with one of said portions, and located at opposite ends of the wire-receiving area thereon, the projections respec- 

